THESE
MATTERS were certified to the Virginia
State Bar Disciplinary Board (ìBoardî) by the Third District, Section I, Subcommittee,
and were heard on September 25, 2003, by a duly convened panel consisting
of Karen A. Gould, Esquire, First Vice Chair, Robert E. Eicher, Esquire, William
M. Moffet, Esquire, H. Taylor Williams, IV, Esquire, and Thaddeus T. Crump,
Lay Member. The Respondent, Paul Cornelious Bland (hereinafter ìMr. Blandî
or ìRespondentî), was not present and was not represented by counsel, the
case having been called by the Clerk of Court three times, no response having
been made. The Virginia State Bar (hereinafter ìthe Barî) was represented
by Barbara A. Williams, Bar Counsel. The Chair polled the members of the Board
Panel as to whether any of them was conscious of any personal or financial
interest or bias which would preclude any of them from fairly hearing this
matter and serving on the panel, to which inquiry each member responded in
the negative.

The Bar
presented to the Panel in Docket No. 03-031-0696 a total of seven (7) exhibits;
the Bar presented to the Panel in Docket No. 03-031-1341 a total of fifty-four
(54) exhibits; the Bar presented to the Panel in Docket No. 03-031-1993 a
total of nine (9) exhibits. All of the exhibits in each case were received
into evidence without objection. In addition the Bar presented to the Board
a stipulation of factual allegations that contained two (2) general factual
allegations, seven (7) factual allegations related to Docket No. 03-031-0696,
thirty-six (36) factual allegations related to Docket No. 03-031-1341, and
ten (10) factual allegations related to Docket No. 03-031-1993.

Stipulated Factual Allegations

I.
General Factual Allegations

VSB Docket Nos. 03-031-0696, 03-031-1341 and 03-031-1993

1.
Mr. Bland
was admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Virginia on March
3, 1982.

2.
Until August
16, 2002, Mr. Bland was active and in good standing to practice law in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.

II.
VSB Docket No. 03-031-0696

Complainant: Michael Roberts

1.
The Circuit
Court of the City of Petersburg appointed Mr. Bland and attorney John Cobb
to represent Michael Roberts on felony charges.

5.
Mr. Bland
failed to appeal Mr. Robertsí conviction of charges on which Mr. Bland represented
him; failed to respond to Mr. Robertsí inquiries about the appeal; and failed
to pursue a delayed appeal after advising Mr. Roberts in April 2002 that he
would do so.

6.
Mr. Bland also failed to notify Mr. Roberts that his license to practice law
was suspended on August 16, 2002, as required by the Rules of Court.

7.
Mr. Roberts filed a bar complaint against Mr. Bland on or about September
1, 2002.

III. VSB
Docket No. 03-031-1341

Complainant: McRaymond Norrington

1.
In January 1997, the complainant McRaymond Norrington retained Mr.
Bland to file suit to recover monies that Almeta Brown collected for renting
a farm in which she had a e
ownership interest and Mr. Norrington had a d
ownership interest.

4.
After Mrs. Brown died on March 1, 1998, the administrators of her estate were
substituted as defendants in the pending action.

5.
Mr. Bland noticed a hearing for November 16, 1998, to present the pleadings
and discovery responses submitted in June 1997 to the court.

6.
The November 6 hearing was continued because Mr. Bland failed to clear the
date with opposing counsel, who was unavailable; opposing counsel suggested
December 11, 1998, as an alternate hearing date, but Mr. Bland was not available
on that date.

7.
On January 27, 1999, Mr. Norrington wrote the court, requesting the courtís
assistance in bringing ìthis tiresome case to some sort of closure.î

8.
On April 22, 1999, a hearing was finally held, and the court ruled that the
defendants were to provide Mr. Norrington an accounting of rents and income
from timber sales and directed Mr. Bland to prepare an order to that effect.

9.
In September 1999, Mr. Norrington learned from the court clerk that Mr. Bland
had never prepared an order memorializing the courtís April 22 ruling; an
order was not entered until October 26, 1999, more than six months after the
court ruled.

10.
The defendants filed an accounting on November 22, 1999, which indicated that
Mr. Norrington was owed $4,093.84.

11.
By letter dated November 24, 2000, Mr. Bland advised Mr. Norrington that he
could either accept the accounting or negotiate the conveyance of the Mrs.
Brownís heirsí interest in the farm in lieu of payment.

12.
By letter dated January 10, 2000, Mr. Norrington advised Mr. Outten that the
accounting was erroneous in that it did not reflect rental payments Mrs. Brown
had received in 1984 and 1985.

13.
By letter dated April 9, 2000, Mr. Norrington sent Mr. Bland a check for $200,
hoping that it would get Mr. Bland ìto the Brunswick County Court House and
fast.î

14.
By letter to Mr. Norrington dated April 13, 2000, Mr. Bland noted he had gone
by the court house on March 30, 2000, and ìIt appears the accounting is filed
and it shows that you are entitled to some funds.î

15.
In his April 13th letter, Mr. Bland quoted Mr. Norrington a retainer
fee of $2,000 for filing a partition suit; Mr. Norrington sent Mr. Bland a
check for $2,000 on or about May 7, 2000, receipt of which was acknowledged
by letter dated May 18, 2000.

16.
Mr. Norrington e-mailed Mr. Bland on May 25, 2000, and again on June 25, 2000,
complaining that Mr. Bland had failed to adequately explain his fee.

17.
By e-mail dated June 23, 2000, Mr. Blandís office inquired whether Mr. Norrington
wanted to negotiate for conveyance of the farm to him in lieu of monies owed
or to obtain a judgment against the estate for the monies owed.

18.
By e-mail to Mr. Norrington dated June 29, 2000, Mr. Blandís office confirmed
that it would proceed with negotiations, then judgment if necessary.

20.
By letter dated August 4, 2000, Mr. Bland proposed that Mr. Outtenís clients
convey their interest in the farm to Mr. Norrington.

21.
In a letter to Mr. Bland dated August 4, 2000, Mr. Outten advised that his
clients would not convey their interest in the farm to Mr. Norrington but
were willing to partition the property.

22.
Mr. Bland wrote Mr. Outten on August 29, 2000, indicating that Mr. Outten
had not replied to Mr. Blandís August 4 proposal; on August 31, 2003, Mr.
Outten sent Mr. Bland a copy of his August 4 reply.

23.
On December 19, 2000, Mr. Bland filed a partition suit on Mr. Norringtonís
behalf in Brunswick County Circuit Court.

24.
The defendants answered the lawsuit on January 19, 2001, and represented that
they were willing to partition the property.

25.
Thomas H. Rose, Jr. was appointed Commissioner in Chancery on March 5, 2001,
and wrote Mr. Bland on May 14, 2001, recommending that the parties agree to
a partition in kind, thereby avoiding a hearing.

26.
On August 20, 2001, Mr. Rose wrote Mr. Bland again, requesting that Mr. Bland
advise him whether he wanted to proceed with a hearing.

27.
On December 17, 2001, after a hearing scheduled for November 20th
was cancelled, Mr. Rose wrote Mr. Bland requesting that he either agree to
a partition in kind or provide available dates for a hearing.

28.
On December 31, 2001, Mr. Rose wrote Mr. Bland again, indicating that the
parties needed to proceed with a hearing since the matter could not be settled.

29.
Mr. Outten wrote Mr. Bland on January 4, 2002, expressing surprise that the
matter could not be settled and questioning whether a hearing would serve
the partiesí interest.

30.
Mr. Rose met with Mr. Outten and Mr. Bland at his office on February 25, 2002.

35.
On November 6, 2002, Ms. Whitfield wrote Mr. Norrington on letterhead captioned
ìBland and Whitfield, PLLCîand advised him to accept the rent money and keep
his d interest in
the farm because there was no legal basis upon which he could claim all the
land.

36.
On or about November 7, 2002, Mr. Norrington filed a bar complaint against
Mr. Bland, alleging that, after Mr. Norrington paid him a total of $3,526,
Mr. Bland failed to communicate with Mr. Norrington and pursue his legal matter
in a diligent manner.

IV.
VSB Docket No. 03-031-1993

Complainant: Bernadine Rice

1.
On or about
October 8, 1993, Bernadine Rice retained Mr. Bland to file suit against Brunswick
County for constructing a sewer line across her property without her permission.

2.
Ms. Rice paid Mr. Bland a $250 retainer.

3.
On or about October 11, 1995, Mr. Bland filed a motion for judgment in the
Circuit Court of Brunswick County against the County of Brunswick seeking
to recover $50,000 in damages.

4.
The county filed a demurrer on October 31, 1995, alleging that Ms. Riceís
sole remedy was to institute a declaratory judgment action to determine whether
her property had been taken or damaged, thereby entitling her to compensation.

5.
Mr. Bland took no further action in the lawsuit, which the court dismissed
on December 22, 1998, for lack of prosecution.

6.
Mr. Bland did not inform Ms. Rice that the court had dismissed her case.

7.
Mrs. Rice did not learn that her case had been dismissed until February 2002,
when her son contacted Mr. Bland.

8.
At that time, Mr. Bland advised Ms. Riceís son that he would have the case
reinstated.

9.
After Ms. Rice wrote Mr. Bland on July 8, 2002, complaining that he had failed
to keep her informed of the progress of her case, Mr. Bland advised her by
letter dated July 11, 2002, that he was not sure the case could be reinstated
and that she might want to consult local counsel about seeking an injunction.

After
admitting the exhibits into evidence and receiving the stipulations of the
parties, the Board retired to deliberate the issues of misconduct. Following
the consideration of all the evidence so received, the Board made the following
findings.

FINDINGS OF MISCONDUCT

The Board finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent has violated
the following Disciplinary Rules and Rules of Professional Conduct:

I.VSB Docket No. 03-031-0696

Complainant: Michael Roberts

RULE 1.3 Diligence

(a) A lawyer shall act with reasonable
diligence and promptness in representing a client.

RULE 1.4 Communication

(b)
A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter
and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.

II.VSB Docket No. 03-031-1341

Complainant: McRaymond Norrington

DR6-101 Competence and Promptness.

(B) A lawyer shall attend promptly to matters
undertaken for a client until completed or until the lawyer has property and
completely withdrawn from representing the client

(C)
A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about matters in which the
lawyerís services are being rendered

(D)
A lawyer shall inform his client of facts pertinent to the matter and of communications
from another party that may significantly affect settlement or resolution
of the matter

RULE 1.3 Diligence

(b) A lawyer shall act with reasonable
diligence and promptness in representing a client.

RULE 1.4
Communication

(c)
A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter
and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.

(d)
A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit
the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.

(e)
A lawyer shall inform the client of facts pertinent to the matter and of communications
from another party that may significantly affect settlement or resolution
of the matter.

III.VSB Docket No. 03-031-1993

Complainant: Bernadine Rice

DR6-101 Competence and Promptness.

(A)
A lawyer shall undertake representation only in matters in which:

(1)
the lawyer can act with competence and demonstrate the specific legal knowledge,
skill, efficiency, and thoroughness in preparation employed in acceptable
practice by lawyers undertaking similar matters, or

(2)
the lawyer has associated with another lawyer who is competent in those matters

(B)
A lawyer shall attend promptly to matters undertaken for a client until completed
or until the lawyer has property and completely withdrawn from representing
the client

(C)
A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about matters in which the
lawyerís services are being rendered

RULE 1.3 Diligence

(b) A lawyer shall act with reasonable
diligence and promptness in representing a client.

RULE 1.4 Communication

(c) A lawyer shall inform the client
of facts pertinent to the matter and of communications from another party
that may significantly affect settlement or resolution of the matter.

The Board
did not find by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent had violated
the following Disciplinary Rules and Rules of Professional Conduct:

I.VSB Docket No. 03-031-0696

Complainant: Michael Roberts

RULE 3.4 Fairness to Opposing Party and
Counsel

A lawyer shall not:

(a)
Knowingly disobey or advise a client to disregard a standing rule or a ruling
of a tribunal made in the course of a proceeding, but the lawyer may take
steps, in good faith, to test the validity of such rule or ruling

II.VSB Docket No. 03-031-1993

Complainant: Bernadine Rice

DR 6-101
Competence and Promptness

(D) A lawyer shall inform his client of facts
pertinent to the matter and of communications from another party that may
significantly affect settlement or resolution of the matter

DR 7-101 Representing a Client Zealously.

(A)
A lawyer shall not intentionally:

(1)
Fail to seek the lawful objectives of his client through reasonably available
means permitted by law and the Disciplinary Rules, except as provided by DR
7-101(B). A lawyer does not violate this Disciplinary Rule, however, by acceding
to reasonable requests of opposing counsel which do not prejudice the rights
of his client, by being punctual in fulfilling all professional commitments,
by avoiding offensive tactics, or by treating with courtesy and consideration
all persons involved in the legal process.

(2)
Fail to carry out a contract of employment entered into with a client for
professional services, but he may withdraw as permitted under DR 2-108, DR
5-102, and DR 5-105.

(3)
Prejudice or damage his client during the course of the professional relationship,
except as required under DR 4-101(D).

The Bar
withdrew the following charge of misconduct:

(III)VSB Docket No. 03-031-1341

Complainant: McRaymond Norrington

DR 2-105. Fees

(III)
A lawyerís fees shall be reasonable and adequately explained to the client.

After the Board announced the Boardís findings of misconduct, the Bar introduced
the respondentís prior record of discipline to be considered by the Board
in imposing sanctions.

IMPOSITION OF SANCTION

The Board, having considered all the evidence before it, the nature of the
respondentís actions and the respondentís prior disciplinary record, hereby
ORDERS that the license of the respondent, Paul Cornelious Bland, to practice
law in the Commonwealth of Virginia be, and the same is hereby, REVOKED effective
September 25, 2003, a summary order having been entered that date; and

It is further ORDERED that, pursuant to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13(M)
of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Respondent shall forthwith
give notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of this Revocation
of his license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia to all clients
for whom he is currently handling any matters, to all judges and the clerks
of the courts before which Respondent may have any pending cases and to all
opposing counsel on all such cases. Respondent shall also make appropriate
arrangements for the disposition of matters now in his care, in conformity
with the wishes of his client. Respondent shall give such notice within 14
days of the effective date of the Revocation, and make such arrangements as
are required herein within 45 days of the effective date of the Revocation.
The Respondent shall also furnish proof to the Bar within 60 days of the effective
date of the Revocation that such notices have been timely given and such arrangements
made for the disposition of matters.

It is further ORDERED that if the Respondent is not handling any client matters
on the effective date of his Revocation, he shall submit an affidavit to that
effect to the Clerk of the Disciplinary System at the Virginia State Bar.
All issues concerning the adequacy of the notice and arrangements required
by Paragraph 13.M. shall be determined by the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary
Board, unless the Respondent makes a timely request for hearing before a three-judge
court.

It is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Disciplinary System shall mail
an attested copy of this order to respondent at his address of record with
the Virginia State Bar, being Post Office Box 402, Petersburg, Virginia, 23804-0402
, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail to Barbara
Ann Williams, Bar Counsel, Virginia State Bar, 707 E. Main Street, Suite 1500,
Richmond, Virginia 23219.

It is further ORDERED that pursuant to Part Six, § IV, ¶ 13(B)(8)(c)
of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Clerk of the Disciplinary
System shall assess all costs against the respondent.